London (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa declined to make any promises about taking Leeds United back to the big time during his first press conference as manager of the fallen English giants on Monday. It is 14 years since Leeds, three-times the champions of England and one of the country's leading clubs in the late 1960s […]

Moscow (AFP) – Denmark coach Age Hareide said his critical remarks of World Cup hopefuls France were "taken out of context" ahead of Tuesday's World Cup clash with the Group C leaders. Hareide gave a withering assessment of France in the run-up to the tournament, claiming they were "nothing special" and that they lacked a […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Nigeria will take delight in ending potentially Lionel Messi's last World Cup for Argentina despite their love and admiration for the five-time world player of the year, promised Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. Victory for the Africans in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday will send Argentina home in disgrace after failing to […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski has urged his team to salvage some pride in their final World Cup game against Japan as they faced up to the disappointment of an early elimination from the tournament. The Poles came to Russia with high hopes but a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired from international football two years ago but Sweden's former talisman looms over their World Cup campaign like only he can. It is only too tempting for Sweden fans to wonder what might have been had the former Paris Saint-Germain player been in the side for Saturday's match against […]

Moscow (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps said his team will be going all out to win their final World Cup group game against Denmark on Tuesday as they look to wrap up first place. Deschamps is expected to make several changes for the encounter in Moscow with France guaranteed a spot in the last […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Colombia coach Jose Pekerman hinted more surprises could be on the way after a tactical masterstroke sealed a crucial World Cup win over Poland to leave them in control of their last-16 destiny. Success over Senegal in their closing Group H match on Thursday will guarantee their progress to the knockout […]

Vatutinki (Russia) (AFP) – Marco Reus says Germany must ignore the pressure and play their brand of free-flowing football to win the make-or-break World Cup game against South Korea on Wednesday and reach the last 16 in Russia. Joachim Loew's team need to win by a two-goal margin in Kazan to be sure of advancing […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – A Rio de Janeiro bar has invented a new drinking game: free shots every time Brazil's superstar Neymar falls down during a crucial World Cup group game against Serbia on Wednesday. "At each Neymar fall, it's a round of shots on the house!" the Sir Walter Pub in northern Rio […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – There is no chance of Mathew Ryan getting homesick at the World Cup — the Australia goalkeeper has paid for 27 members of his family to come out to Russia and support him and the Socceroos. "It is the first time other than my mother and my sister that I've paid […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is set to become the oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup after the 45-year-old was named in the team to face Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on Monday. Egypt tweeted their team line-up including El Hadary, who will smash the record set by Colombia […]

Moscow (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps on Monday played down a suggestion from Paul Pogba that the tournament in Russia could be the Manchester United midfielder's last World Cup. Pogba, 25, caused a stir on Sunday when he told reporters this summer's World Cup could be his final one "because you don't know what […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Dele Alli was back training on Monday, sprinting and kicking balls, as Gareth Southgate planned ahead for England's final World Cup group game against Belgium. Alli's availability would be a boost and his participation at England's base in Repino suggests the midfielder is close to recovering from a thigh strain he […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Australia's long-suffering fans are bracing for another World Cup anti-climax Tuesday when the Socceroos face a Peru side desperate for a victory that may send their opponents home. Pipped 2-1 in the final minutes by France and left agonising over their failure to win a thrilling 1-1 draw against Denmark, Australia […]

Vatutinki (Russia) (AFP) – Mats Hummels is fit to return for Germany in Wednesday's make-or-break World Cup clash against South Korea while midfielder Sebastian Rudy is set to miss out with a broken nose. Rudy had a minor operation on Sunday after the defensive midfielder broke his nose in Saturday's last-gasp 2-1 group stage win over […]